Kickstarter games - Ending May 26th

(Note: I was going to do the entire week to come, but ran out of time this morning)

Pickle Card Game ($7,500) – The big thing going for this project is that it is a finished product, the money goes towards production. However, the pitch doesn’t actually tell me what the game is. It looks to be standard deck of cards with pickle themed characters on it. This project will not make its funding goal, but $25 would get you a copy of the game.

Diamond Trust of London ($78,715) – Now this is an interesting game project, they are actually getting Nintendo DS carts printed. They have reached their funding goals already so if you are looking from a collector’s standpoint it’s going to be a very limited run of carts. The game itself is a strategy game about diamond traders in Angola circa 2000. Not sure how many people the theme will interested, but a very interesting project. For $35 you can get a copy mailed to your door.

Chipped Dagger ($25,000) – “Is a retro 2D medieval fantasy MMORPG” sadly there is no chance this project will be funded. The pitch has a lot of failings, first off a 10 minute gameplay video is great, however no voice over or description makes it a bit flat. Rewards are based around receiving extra micro-transation currency. There is a playable alpha available to check out.

Artifasia ($7,000) – “A sci-fi micromanagement game in a really weird setting”. Another video with no voice over leaving the potential backer wondering what they are buying. I think the font for “Artifasia” is great but not something I would back unless more info is given. Additionally, it is important to list which games the “Xor’s Games” team have developed commercially if you mention that in the bio section. For $10 you would have gotten a copy of the game.

Spate ($12,000) – This project has reached its funding goal, it has a video with the creator pitching the product to you, and previous works listed. “Spate is a 2.5D platformer set in a rich steampunk world.” The game itself has some rough spots, but does show of the art quality of individual who has brought it this far already. You can get a digital PC copy for $10 via kickstarter.

Mad Science: The card game ($1,500) – Small little card game, aimed at kids and family, simple art but colorful, and the project is already funded. Players build monsters with random parts and use them for SCIENCE and fighting. $25 will get you the full boxed game.

Journey Pets ($80,000) – This project will not reach its ambitious funding goal. A pokemon style phone game, where pets are located in based on real world GPS locations. The video does a great job explaining the project but the camera placement is rather odd. There is a gap in the mobile market for a quality pokemon style game, but it doesn’t look like “Journey Pets” will be that one. Rewards start at $10 to get $25 worth of in game currency.

Cloudberry Kingdom ($20,000) – “The hardest platformer ever.” Randomly generated levels by their custom AI. The video pitch is well produced, and funny/cheesy. The graphics are a bit low on the quality side, but definitely something to check out if you liked “Super Meat Boy” or “I Want to be the Guy”. This project is just under the target goal, meaning your pledge could make a difference. The bar to get a copy for PC or Wii-U is $15.

RGB Dating Sim ($1,100) – This kickstarter lacks a video and an explanation of what the game is to the potential funder. There is a playable version linked in the kickstarter page, but the internet is lazy, it’s best to say what it is up front. There is little chance this project will reach its target goal, but for a $1 you get the full game and source code.

Wall Street Titan ($15,000) – “Giant Robot Demolishes Wall Street!” the pitch video does show some fun “Tap ‘em up” gameplay for phones and tablets. However, the theme of squishing Wall Street bankers limits the appeal of the project. It is very far from its target goal for backing, but $5 will get the game.

Record audio of a car via dyno for use in racing video games ($1,500) – While I may not completely understand this project, it has reached its funding goal. $50 will get you the full sound bank of recorded sounds from a 1985 Mercedes 190e-16V, while $1 will get you a ringtone.

Seems like most of the really promising kick starters are over and theres a flood of half-baked ideas and notions from people hoping to cash in. I kick started a ton of games, and told the doomsayers that they're being dramatic... But right now I would recommend being tight with the purse strings. A lot of pretenders out there right now after the rush of professional pitches and designs, so exercise judgement.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/69341191/xenonauts

This on the other hand looks pretty good. I'm glad indie and smaller developers have stopped moaning about how big publishers are turning strategy/tactical/roleplaying/whatever games into bland action games and started actually putting their money where their mouths are. Between this and Firaxis' new version, seems like a good time to be an X-COM fan.

@Salarn said:

Diamond Trust of London ($78,715) – Now this is an interesting game project, they are actually getting Nintendo DS carts printed. They have reached their funding goals already so if you are looking from a collector’s standpoint it’s going to be a very limited run of carts. The game itself is a strategy game about diamond traders in Angola circa 2000. Not sure how many people the theme will interested, but a very interesting project. For $35 you can get a copy mailed to your door.

Thanks for this, I love a game with a social message.

@Brodehouse: Though, it's not like there's been a shortage of X-Com inspired games before... Both commercial like UFO: Extraterrestrials, and the UFO: Aftermath series, and open source like UFO: Alien Invasion.